Luggage



W. BIALO LUGGAGE Nov. 19, 1968 Filed March 14, 1967 INVENTOR. 721 501.40

United States Patent O' 3,411,610 LUGGAGE Walter Bialo, 76 Seacord Road, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10804 Filed Mar. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 622,990 7 Claims. (Cl. 190-49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article of luggage including a container section and a cover section each bounded by substantially rectangular frame members and having enclosure means secured thereto. The cover section includes an elongated strip of extruded synthetic plastic material which is sewn to the frame member and has a binding sewn thereto. The cover panel of the cover section is sewn to the binding and pulls on the strip to bow the strip thereby rigidifying the entire cover section. The strip may include a plurality of different colored bands which are integrally united with the strip and serve to further reinforce the luggage.

This invention relates to a luggage construction, and more particularly to improvements over the type of luggage disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,- 098,548, to Walter Bialo issued July 23, 1963, for Luggage Construction.

Modern soft-side luggage of the type -described in the above-identified patent is generally extremely long lasting and keeps its shape fairly satisfactorily. However, it has been found that when the cover section is closed with the luggage being overfull, it is sometimes possible to force the cover out of shape. The present invention provides means to reduce the possibility of the cover section from being distorted without requiring separate reinforcing members, the installation of which reinforcing members in the luggage provides for an exceedingly undesirably large percentage of the cost of construction. The present invention contemplates the use of a relatively cheap yet relatively rigid highly attractive extruded synthetic plastic strip which serves to prevent deformation of the cover to a substantial extent, provides for greater strength, especially as compared to cover sections where no reinforcement is used, and Which provides a novel and highly attractive ornamental appearance to the luggage with relatively little or no added expense to the construction of the luggage, and in some cases a reduced cost.

The construction of this invention features the use of an elongated strip of extruded polyvinyl chloride or like synthetic plastic material, which is provided with a groove therein for reception of bands of synthetic plastic material of the same substance of which the strip is extruded, which bands of material are differently colored for novel ornamental effect. These strips are integrally bonded to the strip and to each other and not only serve to provide a highly decorative effect for the luggage, but give rise to a novel and unexpected advantage in that the bands resiliently resist bowing of the strip and thus added to the strength of the article of luggage.

Still further objects and features of the present invention reside in the provision of luggage that is strong and durable, highly attractive in appearance, and capable of being manufactured out of readily available materials at a relatively low expense when compared to other methods of manufacture required for producing conventional luggage.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this article of luggage, a preferred embodiment of which is 3,411,610 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 ice illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of examplel only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an article of luggage constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along the plane of line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial -rear elevational view of the article of luggage;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view showing in perspective a portion of the elongated strip of material; and,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing in a greatly enlarged scale a portion of the cover section looking along the plane of line 5-5 in FIG. l.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like 4reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates an article of luggage comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is of a generally rectangular shape and includes a container section 12 and a cover section 14. The container section is provided with a substantially rectangular peripheral frame 16 while the cover section is provided with a peripheral frame 18, which interengages with the frame 16 so that a flange 20 of the frame 18 is seated in a groove 22 formed in the frame 16 when the luggage is closed. The frames 16 and 18 are preferably formed of aluminum.

Secured to the frames 16 and 18 are the enclosure means 24 and 26 respectively, which enclosure means define the outer surfaces of the luggage. In the embodiment of the present invention, particular construction of the enclosure means 24 of the cover section 14 is necessitated. The cover section includes an elongated strip 28 of extruded synthetic plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, which is relatively rigid yet yresilient and which, as can be seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided with a groove 30 therein. The strip 28 is extruded of a particular color such as red, so that the portion 32 and 34 on opposite sides of the groove 30 appear red. Bands 36, 38, and 40 of differently colored synthetic plastic material preferably extruded simultaneously with strip 28 and composed of a material such as polyvinyl chloride or the material from which the strip 28 is extruded, are disposed within the groove 30 and bonded to each other and to the strip 28 in an integral manner. The bands 36 and-40 are colored, for example, yellow, while the band 38 may be colored green to give a highly attractive effect. However, the bands 36, 38 and 40 serve the additional function of resisting bowing of the strip in the manner shown in FIG. 5 and thereby strengthening and rigidifying the luggage. The strip is sewn by seam 42 to the frame 20 and the upper end 44 of this strip is received within a groove 46 formed in a binding 48 which is in an elongated length and has the cover panel 50 sewn as a seam 52 thereto.

The opposite ends 54 ad 56 of the strip 28 as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 are disposed in abutting relationship at the rear of the cover panel. A reinforcing plate 58 may be utilized at the rear of the cover section, and abuts against the frame 18. Rivets 60 extend through a hinge member 62, through' the strip 28, through the frame member 18, and into the plate 24 for hingedly securing the cover section to the container section 12. Additional hinges may be used adjacent the opposite ends of the luggage as may be desired or found necessary and -it is noted that the hinge means may have a protective plate 64 associated therewith which is riveted to the support plate 24 through the strip 28 and the cover panel 50.

The hinge 62 substantially overlies the abutting ends 54 and 56 of the strip concealing the abutting ends and the hinge 62 in conjunction with the rivets 60 serve to hold the ends together and in abutting relationship and prevent the ends from pulling apart even when the strip 28 is under tension. The strip is placed under tension and bowed by the fact that the binding 48 is sewn to the strip and to the cover panel 50. The panel of sheet plastic is of less outside dimension than that of the strip and when sewn to the binding is pulled taut under tension thereby pulling back on the binding and hence 0n the strip bowing the strip outwardly, as can be seen best in FIG. 5. The bowing of the strip provides a highly desirable ornamental effect to the luggage, while also serving to rigidify and strengthen the cover section because of its contour so that the cover section is protected against being deformed out of its desired shape.

Of course, suitable latches 70, a handle 72, and, if desired, a combination lock 74 and a lining 76 or the like, may be provided for the luggage.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An article of luggage comprising a container section and a cover section, said container and cover sections having mouth portions, substantial rectangular frame members circumscribing said mouth portions, enclosure means secured to said frame members, the enclosure means of said cover section including an elongated strip of extruded synthetic plastic material sewn to the frame member of said cover section, a resilient binding sewn to said strip, and a cover panel sewn to said binding, the peripheral dimensions of said cover panel being less than that of said strip, wherein said strip is arcuately bowed for rigidifying said cover section.

2. An article of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said cover panel places said strip under tension so that said strip is arcuately bowed for rigidifying said cover section.

3. An article of luggage according to claim 2, 'wherein said strip has a groove therein, and elongated bands of differently colored synthetic plastic material disposed in said groove and integrally united with said strip and each other.

4. An article of luggage according to claim 3, wherein the opposite ends of said strip abut each other at the rear of said cover section and hinge means, securing means securing said hinge means to said vframe members hingedly securing said cover section to said container section, said hinge means substantially overlying the abutting opposite ends of said strip with said securing means holding said opposite ends of said strip in their abutting relationship.

5. An article of luggage according to claim 4, wherein said binding is provided with a groove therein, said strip being received in said groove.

6. An article of luggage according to claim 5, wherein said strip including said bands are formed of extruded poyvinyl chloride.

7. An article of luggage according to claim 6, wherein said frame members are formed of aluminum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,136 7/1954 Wheary 190-54 3,098,548 7/1963l Bialo 190-49 3,298,480 l/l967 Kish 190-54 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

